Apparatus for use by musicians for promoting the flexibility of the joints and stretching the muscles and ligaments of the hands.



H. OSTROVSKY.

APPARATUS FOR USE BY MUSICIANS FOR PROMOTING THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE JOINTS AND STRETCHING THE MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS OF THE HANDS.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY I9. I9I6.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I. Z 1 11/ 771, f hi l/ m 1/ 0 1 a}, 1 I L g m 6 Z Z l 6 Patented Dec. 18; 1917.

H. OSTROVSKY. APPARATUS FOR USE BY MUSICIANS FOR PROMOTING THE FLEXIBILITY 0F THEJOINTS AND.

' STRETCHING THE MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS OF THE HANDS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. I916- l 25 63-6. Patented Dec. 18, 1917. j I I 2 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- H. OSTROV'SKY. I APPARATUS FOR USE BY MUSICIANS FOR PROMOTING THE FLEXIBILITY 0F THEIOINTS AND STRETCHING THE MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS 0F TI'IE'HANDS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. I916- Patented Dec. 18, I917;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WW8. WWI 6 Q 1mm]? W my H. OSTROVSKY. APPARATUS FOR USE BY MUSICIANS FOR PROMOTING THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE JOINTS AND STRETCHING THE MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS OF THE HANDS. APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 19. 1916.

1,250,636. Patented Dec. 18,1917.

4 shins-SHEET 4.

PATENT OFFCE HARRY osrnovsizy, or BAYSWA'IER, mama; ENGLAND:

APPARATUS FORUSE'BY MUSICIANS FOR PROMOTING THE FLEX AND STRETCHING THE MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS OF To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY. OSTRQVSKY, a subject of the Emperor of Russia, residing at 50 Leinster Gardens, Bayswater, London,

England, have invented a new and useful improved apparatus for use by "musicians for promoting the flexibilityoftheijoints and stretching the muscles and ligaments. of the hands, of which the following is a specification. f

' My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Ihave shown an embodiment ofmy invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed 1n the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings t Figure l is a plan of the apparatus W thout the removable front plate.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and V Fig. 3 1s a transverse sectlon of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan wlth the finger sockets or stalls removed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the'finger sockets or stalls.

. pianists, violinists and others in whose.

Fig. 6 is a plan. a

Fig. 7 is an end View. a a

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section, and w Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section of the same. a

Figs. 10 and 11 are longitudinal elevations of the inner partial or split tubes. i

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrating its use for pressing back the fingers of the hand, and Y Fig. 13 is a'plan of the same with some of the parts in a different position.

Figs. 14 to 19 are views of details herein after' referred to. V V My inventionj is designed for use by work hand development and finger dexterity is essential and I'have-devised my improved apparatus to permit the fingers to bemechemically exercised, with the view of renderingv the same supple, by exercising the muscles of the hand, loosening the joints, flexing an'doex tending the membrane and tissue between the fingers, and stretching the fingers. With the foregoing purposes outlined, and with other objects in view, it will be'appa rent as thenature of the invention is better understood, that my present invention re THE HANDS.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t D 13, 19 7, Applieationalefiiruiy19,1916. 'Seria1No.110,2o8.,

IBILITY on THE aoizu'i's sides, inthe combination and arrangement.

of parts, and in thedetails hereinafter descr1bed. It'will be understood. that changes in the, precise embodiment of the invention hereinjdisclosed may be'madewithin the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the'spiritof the invention l6. "Mounted on the bar 6 forlongitudinal movement is a nutif, which carries a trans 1 verse bar 9 and said bar 9 communicatesthe 'movement of the nut f to finger sockets'k when producing thelateral stretching or spreading of thefingers, the said 'nut'being guided in a longitudinal slot 1' in the, top of the frame a. j, j are slots in the bar g. and 7c, is arefstuds on slides Z of the finger sockets it over which work the said slots, and m,.m are guides for the said slides.

The guides m are made in two parts which are hinged together and to-the frame at a, sothat they can open into the dotted position shown in F ig. 4 to allow the finger sockets ktojbe removed therefrom,'and they are also mounted on studs 0, 0 moving inslots p, p inthe top of the frame of the apparatus and carried by nuts 9, g w'orking'along a rightand left hand screw 1 operated by a knob or handwheel e to allow the angle of the'guides m tobe varied. The, said guides are provided with springs t whichjalways tend to open them, andthey are locked in their closedp'position against 'the action off the springs t-by means of catches M, which are plvotally mounted on posts 00 carried by. the stationary part of "the guides and are kept in engagement with studs 0 on the movable part of the guides by springs w that encircle the posts 00. The catches u can be moved away. from the studs 6 to release the movthe finger sockets or stalls h and f is the lining of leather or the like; g g are the flanges on the tree edges of the outer split ,tube 6 and h is the lever for operatnig on the said edges so, as, to decrease or increase the sectional area of the split tubes and thereby modify the compression of thelfins gers in the sockets or stalls 7b. This act on of the split tubes is effected through the medium of a grooved cam i on the spindle ofthe lever h acting on a rib 7t? on'the split tube (Z so as to'depress the same when the said lever is operated, and of toggle levers or linksl Z jointed to the brackets m m on the flanges g 'ot the partial tube a and to the rib [3 on the partial tube (5 The lever-spindle 7' is mounted in brackets or bearings 42%, n which can sli e thereon to allow therequired lateral movement "of the edges ot the split'tube; e the extent of which movement outward is limit-ed by a stoprod 0 carried in. brackets p on the flanges 9 The said edges are -1r'orced outward, againstthe action of the lever h bymeans of aspring Q17 on a rod r "moun ted in brackets 8 The lever 7L is provided with teeth or. serrations t and an arm a is lived onone end of the rod and has a pin o designed to engage the said teeth or'serrations in order to lock. the lever when it has been moved'to the required position.

e0 10 Fig. 10, indicate the slits in the split or partial tube (Z and 00 0.1 Fig. 11 indicate the slits in the split or partial tube 0 whereby elasticity is given to them to enable them to contormto the shape of the fingers when vbeing gripped in the sockets or'stalls it. 3 and 2 Fig. 12, are the hinged plates for producing pressure on the back of the hand at the joints. the platefg being pivoted tobrackets b on the top plate or table of the framed," 0 is the bracket carriedby the nut 7 torregulating the angle otthe plate g with relation to the said topplate. The other plate 2 is provided with lateral studs d which can engage notches in braek ets '6 onthe'plate 3 so that the two plates arejthus hinged together and the outer or bottom edge of the plate 2 will slide along the top plate of the frame when the plate 3/ is moved by the "bracket 0 owing to the manipulation of the screw 5. Fig. 12 is a'cushion for the hand and wrist the fingers bearing on; the part 01- the jcushion lying against the plate .2 while the palm rests upon the part of the cushion on the top plate and the wrist is on a part of the cushion supported by a pad 9 72 Figs. 12, 1e. and 15 is the padded transversebar for producing the required'pressure on the back ofthe hand and i are the brackets hinged at k to the brackets b and-providedwith "screwthreaded rods Z for holding the bar h while the said pressure is produced by forcing down the bar by means of the thumb-nllits m on the saidrods. The bracket i in addi tion to being hinged at to the side of the frame a is made 1n two parts 3o1nted together at n as shown mostclearly inFigs. 1

not'k'zhes Q2 in the brackets b to secure them shown in Fig.1'2.

when raised into the operative position as p In o: lertha't the bracket c n ay be -moved out of the working position shown. in Figs.

1 2 and 13,111 which it would interfere'with the movement of the finger it In their gula sm, it 1sarrangedftoturn and slide on a pivot pinflup'n the nut f,

so thati't can be slid l'ongit'u nlly against the act on of springs s to d sen 11 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 into the position shownin Figs. 1 tea; a 1s a sprmg plate on the bracket 0 having a.

ee e s or 1 it fi'd ,on the nut and then turned hole engaging a stud a on the nut or pr=- I venting the bracket from iii ving longitudinally when in use, the said'plate signed to similarly engage a stud e0 'on'the nut to retain the bracket '6 when ino edinto its other position as shown clearly in Fig. 2. p g V a.

In Figs. 12 and 13, m represei'its a plate forming a portion or an attachment, which is used with the apparatus when it is {deis provided on its underside near its rear end with apin or stud 2 which engages hole in a resilientinetal strap 3 secured to the front portion oi the frame a, whe'i'ithe sired to fstretcha single finger. The" plate r plate is to be attached to the frame. The

front of the'plate provided with a padded bar I)? designed to be engaged by thehand while one of the fingers is being pulled or stretched, the said bar jbeiiig trough-shaped as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 to adapt it to receive 'thefpad'0 thereof which is attached to the plate 00 by means of threads or Wires inserted inthe holes 6Z3," Fig. 13; e a are hinged-brackets similar to the brackets 2' 7' hereinbefore described and f Fig. 12 is a padded bar similar to 'the'bar it supported by the said. brackets and designed vwhen the brackets are moved into the position shown "in dotted lines in Fig. 13 to press upon the back of the lian'd'in order to assist inholding 'it while the finger isbeing stretched. To" allow of this operation one of the finger socln e ts or stalls h is, shown in "dotted l'inesin Fig. 13, temporarily connected byfa link g to theb'racliets 0 the required longitudinal move-mentof the finger socket or stall being effected by operating the notched wheel 6 by means of the lever a as hereinbefore described.

For holding the thumb while any one of the fingers is being stretched it is clamped in the other finger socket or'stall which is temporarily placed in an auxiliary guide 72. (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13 and also in side elevation, end view and plan; at Figs.

17, 18, and 19) oscillating on a pin 2' in-' serted in a hole i in either side of the plate m (according to whether the right or the left hand is to be operated upon) and carrying a stud [a moving in a curved guideslot Z on the said plate.

Or instead of placing the thumb in the sliding socket or stall as above described it can be placed under the padded bar 6 in the known manner.

Claims:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, divergent guides mounted on said frame, each of said guides consisting of a fixed part and a movable part hinged together at one end, a latch for holding the free ends of the parts together,

finger grasping means slidably mounted in' said guides, and means for moving said finger grasping means along said guides.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, divergent guides mounted on said frame, each of said guides consisting of a fixed part and a movable part F, hinged together at one end, a post carried by the fixed part of the guide and a pin carried by the movable part of the guide, a latch pivotally and slidably mounted on said post and provided with a recess in which the pin rests, a spring for holding the latch in engagement with the pin, means for moving the latch away from the pin to permit the free ends of the guide to be separated, finger grasping means mounted -in said guides, and means for moving said finger grasping means along said guides.

3. In a device of the class described, a finger stall comprising an outer split tube, an inner split tube mounted in the outer tube and having its split arranged opposite the split of the outer tube, and means for varying the area of the interior of said tubes to grasp a finger within the same.

4:. In a device of the class described, a finger stall comprising an outer split tube, an inner split tube located within the outer tube and having its split disposed opposite the split in the outer tube, said inner tube consisting of two parts, one of which is longitudinally slotted and the other having transverse slits, and means for varying the areas of said tubes to grasp a finger within the same.

5. In a device of the class described, a finger stall comprising a U-shaped flexible member'pro'vided on its upperedge's with longitudinal plates, a flexible conical split sleeve mounted: in said U-shaped member and provided with a cam member for vary ing the area of the split sleeve, links connect-f ing the longitudinal plates'with said cam member, a rockshaft mounted "inbearin'gs in said plates and carrying an eccentric which engages said cam member, and a lever rigidly carried by said shaft for turning'said eccentric to depress said cam member and cause the split sleeve to contract within said U-shaped member. a

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame provided with bearings, a longitudinally disposed screw rotatably mounted in said bearings and provided with a notched operating wheel, a nut mounted on said screw and provided with projecting arms provided with longitudinally disposed slots, diagonally disposed guides pivotally c011- nected at one end to said frame, slides movably mounted in said guides and provided with studs which operate in said slots and finger compressing means carried by said slides.

7. In a finger exercising apparatus, a finger stall comprising a shoe carrying a flexible U-shaped member provided at its upper edges with longitudinal plates, apertured ears mounted on said longitudinal plates, rods mounted in said ears, a spring encircling one of said rods for holdingthe longitudinal plates apart, a conical split sleeve mounted in said U-shaped member and provided with a longitudinally disposed rib, links connecting said plates to said rib,

a shaft carried by said plates and provided I with an eccentric which is in engagement with said rib for varying the area of said sleeve when the shaft is rotated, a lever rigidly connected with said shaft and provided with a toothed portion, and a catch mounted On one of said rods and having a pin which cooperates with the teeth of the lever for locking the same in various positions.

8. In an apparatus for promoting digital dexterity, a finger bending device comprising a padded bar for clamping a hand to the apparatus frame, a plate pivoted at its lower end to said frame, another plate pivotally connected to the upper end of the first plate, the lower end of which slidably engages the frame, and means for swinging the first plate upon its pivots.

9. In an apparatus for promoting digital dexterity, a frame, a finger bending device comprising a table mounted upon said frame, a plate pivotally connected at its lower end to said frame, another plate pivotally connected to the upper end of the first plate and having its lower end slidably engaging said table, a bar for engaging the back of the hand, and means for swinging the first plate about its pivot'whereby said second plate is moved vertically.

10. A device for promoting a digital dexterity comprising a frame having a table, a plate having its lower end pivotally connected to said frame, another plate pivotally connected to the upper end of the first plate and having its lower end resting on said table, a bar mounted above the table for engaging the back of the hand, and a bracket 19 slidably mounted on said table and provided With a roller engaging said first plate.

HARRY OSTROVSKY. Witnesses C. G. REDFERN, A. ALBRETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

